Use of Solar Desiccant Air-Conditioning Systems in Commercial Buildings

Desiccant air conditioning systems provide an environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional methods of conditioning a building’s internal environment. Whilst conventional air conditioning systems rely on electrical energy to drive the cooling cycle, desiccant cooling is a heat driven cycle. As such, desiccant cooling provides an opportunity to be coupled with solar thermal collectors to reduce energy demands. This paper discusses the potential for a desiccant cooling cycle utilising solar thermal energy as the sole source of heat for regeneration of the desiccant. The study demonstrates that under the assumed design conditions this system will theoretically not require a regeneration heater. Installation of such a system in a commercial building would be extremely beneficial in reducing building’s energy consumption and therefore greenhouse gas emission.